Prairie State Wire

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is taking his gun ban and the state’s abortion strategy to a larger stage, suggesting the federal government enact the same policies.  

Pritzker prided himself on those accomplishments on stage at the World Economic Forum.

“The people of our state want us to increase jobs, grow the economy, you know, make sure that in my state people want to ban assault weapons. We just did that. Protect a woman's right to choose. We just did that,” Pritzker said a Davos forum.

“Those are not happening at the federal level and should. But we're doing it at the state level. And and it's true also about building our economy. We have a we just passed $1,000,000,000,000 GDP for the state of Illinois, where the fifth state in the country to do that. But we're doing that with some help from the federal government. But frankly, we've had to chart a course and set an industrial policy essentially for our state.”

Pritzker’s comments came during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The forum comes as Pritzker continues to position himself for a future presidential run.

The gun ban Pritzker is suggesting should be extended nationwide outlawed over 170 commonly owned guns.

That has led to 85 of Illinois’ 102 sheriffs saying they cannot enforce the ban given its encroachment on the Second Amendment.

Coles County Sheriff Kent Martin was one of many sheriffs and state’s attorneys who said they would not enforce the law.

“Governor J.B. Pritzker recently signed legislation requiring gun owners to register certain firearms with the Illinois State Police and pay a fee for doing so, even if the firearm has been owned for many years,” Martin said in a statement.

“The legislation also places limitations on the capacity of ammunition magazines. Neither of these actions will make Coles County safer. As a parent and law enforcement officer, I am greatly concerned about the culture of violence in our society, but placing additional requirements on law-abiding citizens will not deter criminals or reduce gun violence.”

Illinois has also opened its borders to a flood of abortions from out of state women since Roe v. Wade was overturned and effectively ended the practice in nearly half of the country.

Darren Bailey, a former state senator who opposed Pritzker in the 2022 election, slammed Pritzker for removing parental rights regarding abortions.  

“JB also signed legislation allowing minors to get abortions without parental notification,” Bailey said during the campaign.

“Your 12-year-old daughter can't go on a school field trip without your permission, but she can get an abortion without you knowing about it? Governor Pritzker is an extreme leftist who hates parents, and his policies are a complete joke.”

Pritzker also supported a bill in the lame duck session that would open up abortion access by allowing unlicensed out of state doctors and other medical professional to provide abortions. The bill also allows for gender reassignment treatment for children without parental consent.